Volkswagen Faces French Trial as EV Output Grows

Volkswagen has been ordered by a Paris court to stand criminal trial in France in connection with the long-running diesel-emissions scandal. According to an AFP report cited by Bloomberg, the automaker will face allegations of deceit concerning goods that endanger human and animal health. The case focuses on its diesel vehicles and the software used to manipulate emissions tests.

Court proceedings are not expected to start before 2027. The court is scheduled to discuss the trial timetable in December 2026, meaning any full hearing will take place after that date. The order adds another front to the legal fallout from the emissions controversy, which has already led to substantial costs for Volkswagen and the wider automotive sector.

The French case stems from the broader Dieselgate affair, which erupted in September 2015 when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency disclosed that certain Volkswagen diesel cars carried illegal "defeat device" software. The software detected official testing conditions and temporarily lowered emissions, allowing the vehicles to pass lab tests while emitting up to 40 times the legal limit of nitrogen oxides during normal driving, in violation of the U.S. Clean Air Act.

French prosecutors allege that this conduct amounted to deceit in relation to products that posed risks to health. Similar legal actions are being pursued in France against Renault and two Stellantis subsidiaries, which have rejected the accusations. The diesel-emissions controversy has implicated multiple carmakers and has cost the automotive industry tens of billions of dollars globally.

Volkswagen continues to face legal repercussions from Dieselgate in several jurisdictions. In Germany, four former Volkswagen executives were found guilty in 2025 for their involvement in the affair. In the UK, Mercedes‑Benz Group, Ford Motor and other manufacturers are parties to a mass class‑action‑style case linked to diesel emissions, highlighting the broader regulatory and litigation environment facing legacy automakers.

These proceedings add to the financial and reputational pressure on Volkswagen and its peers as regulators and courts revisit past conduct. At the same time, manufacturers are adjusting product strategies and capital allocation in response to stricter emissions standards and a shift toward electrified powertrains in key markets.

While preparing to defend itself in France, Volkswagen has emphasized progress in its electrification strategy. Earlier in February, the company said it has reached production of five million electric drive units globally. The milestone reflects output from plants in Győr, Kassel, Tianjin and Zuffenhausen, which together form a group-wide production network dedicated to electric powertrains.

Volkswagen stated that its Group Components competence network underpins this expansion. The Kassel facility alone is expected to raise electric-drive output in 2025 by around 24% year on year to more than 850,000 units. The company presents this industrial footprint as a foundation for scaling its electric-vehicle portfolio while legacy diesel issues continue to work through the courts.